Posts from — July 2014

Épernay – Nancy

Distance: 234.5 kilometers.

The longest stage so far, crosses the Marne, the Meuse, and a branch of the Moselle with a pair of category 4s and a 15 kilometer downhill run into Nancy, which could get very interesting if there is rain.

The rain wasn’t necessary as people were wiping out all the way to the end, which was a photo finish between Matteo Trentin and Peter Sagan with Trentin getting the stage win in the end. Three riders were unable to finish and more may not start tomorrow from the look of several crashes.

The final ascent was a bit sharp for a category 4, so the sprinters were slowed significantly until they reached the top, then they took off to the finish in Nancy. With high speed and quick changes at the end of the longest stage yet the crashes were inevitable as sprinters went to the front in the final 15 kilometers. Riders were packed together, so any problem resulted in a chain reaction.

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 29h 57′ 04″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 259 points
Cyril Lemoine ( Fra – COF – 174 ) [Polka Dot] 6 points
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) 3 [White]

Team: Astana Pro ( AST – 041-049 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Matteo Trentin ( Ita – OPQ – 079 )
Combative: Martin Elmiger ( Sui – IAM – 193 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
2 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – AST – 042 ) + 00′ 02″
3 Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) + 00′ 44″
4 Michal Kwiatkowski ( Pol – OPQ – 074 ) + 00′ 50″
5 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 01′ 45″
6 Tony Gallopin ( Fra – LTB – 134 ) + 01′ 45″
7 Richie Porte ( Aus – SKY – 007 ) + 01′ 54″
8 Andrew Talansky ( US – GRS – 091 ) + 02′ 05″
9 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ( Esp – MOV – 011 ) + 02′ 11″
10 Romain Bardet ( Fra – ALM – 082 ) + 02′ 11″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Arras – Reims

Distance: 194 kilometers.

Today’s stage has a couple of Category 4 climbs, but nothing too difficult for the sprinters. It crosses the Somme and the Marne rivers sites of some of the most deadly battles of World War I.

This stage wasn’t the Somme [58,000 British casualties on the first day] but one rider didn’t start and three more couldn’t finish this stage after accidents on the rain soaked roads.

Andre Greipel won the stage and Luis Mate took the Red Numbers, but the field was reordered when the peloton broke into smaller groups. In the last two stages Vincenzo Nibali’s hold on the Yellow Jersey became noticeably stronger as major contenders have lost a lot of time.

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 24h 38′ 25″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 217 points
Cyril Lemoine ( Fra – COF – 174 ) [Polka Dot] 6 points
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) 3 [White]

Team: Astana Pro ( AST – 041-049 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: André Greipel ( Ger – LTB – 135 )
Combative: Luis Angel Mate Mardones ( Esp – COF – 175 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
2 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – AST – 042 ) + 00′ 02″
3 Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) + 00′ 44″
4 Michal Kwiatkowski ( Pol – OPQ – 074 ) + 00′ 50″
5 Fabian Cancellara ( Sui – TFR – 163 ) + 01′ 17″
6 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 01′ 45″
7 Tony Gallopin ( Fra – LTB – 134 ) + 01′ 45″
8 Richie Porte ( Aus – SKY – 007 ) + 01′ 54″
9 Andrew Talansky ( US – GRS – 091 ) + 02′ 05″
10 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ( Esp – MOV – 011 ) + 02′ 11″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Ypres – Arenberg Porte du Hainaut

Distance: 155.5 kilometers.

Today’s stage starts at Ypres, Belguim, a major battle site of World War I, and then heads back into France where 9 sections of pavé [cobblestones] await the field. Cobblestones and bicycles are not a good match.

Chris Froome didn’t even make it to the cobblestones. He withdrew after his second accident on the rain-slicked road, apparently the wrist he injured in an accident yesterday finally was too bad to continue.

The organizers removed two of the pavé sections because they were under water. The other sections were covered with slick green slime.

That didn’t bother Lars Boom of the Netherlands who won the stage 19 seconds ahead of the next rider. Astana unseated Sky in the team competion.

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 20h 26′ 46″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 185 points
Cyril Lemoine ( Fra – COF – 174 ) [Polka Dot] 6 points
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) 3 [White]

Team: Astana Pro ( AST – 041-049 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Lars Boom ( Ned – BEL – 062 )
Combative: Lieuwe Westra ( Ned – AST – 049 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
2 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – AST – 042 ) + 00′ 02″
3 Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) + 00′ 44″
4 Michal Kwiatkowski ( Pol – OPQ – 074 ) + 00′ 50″
5 Fabian Cancellara ( Sui – TFR – 163 ) + 01′ 17″
6 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 01′ 45″
7 Tony Gallopin ( Fra – LTB – 134 ) + 01′ 45″
8 Richie Porte ( Aus – SKY – 007 ) + 01′ 54″
9 Andrew Talansky ( US – GRS – 091 ) + 02′ 05″
10 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ( Esp – MOV – 011 ) + 02′ 11″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

No predictions from me beyond neither of these teams will get beaten as badly as Brazil did yesterday because they both have defenses.

And the defenses ruled for 120 minutes which produced:

Netherlands 0(2)-0(4) Argentina

The Netherlands will face Brazil on Saturday to determine third place, while Argentina faces Germany on Sunday for the World Cup.

I’m sure that scoring opportunities were not exactly enhanced by the fact that it was pouring rain in Sao Paulo for the second half and extra time.

Netherlands had used up their substitution opportunities, so they couldn’t bring in Tim Krul, the goalkeeper who stymied Costa Rica and is something of a penalty kick specialist.

Le Touquet-Paris-Plage – Lille Métropole

Distance: 163.5 kilometers.

Marcel Kittel has now won three of the four stages, but still trails the Yellow Jersey by almost 20 minutes. In the battle for Yellow Froome and Contador have swapped places in the standings – Froome down to 7 and Contador up to 5.

Today’s stage was another for sprinters as the Tour honors the centennial of World War I by running through many of the battlefields of that war. Today was across ‘Flanders fields’.

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 17h 07′ 52″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 158 points
Cyril Lemoine ( Fra – COF – 174 ) [Polka Dot] 6 points
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) 2 [White]

Team: Sky ( SKY – 001-009 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Marcel Kittel ( Ger – GIA – 101 )
Combative: Thomas Voeckler ( Fra – EUC – 159 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) 17h 07′ 52″
2 Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) + 00′ 02″
3 Michael Albasini ( Sui – OGE – 182 ) + 00′ 02″
4 Greg Van Avermaet ( Bel – BMC – 148 ) + 00′ 02″
5 Alberto Contador ( Esp – TCS – 031 ) + 00′ 02″
6 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ( Esp – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 02″
7 Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 001 ) + 00′ 02″
8 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 00′ 02″
9 Bauke Mollema ( Ned – BEL – 061 ) + 00′ 02″
10 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – AST – 042 ) + 00′ 02″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

Brazil is not only without the services of their captain, Silva, for his second yellow card, their head of PR has been banned for 4 games and fined 10k Swiss francs for roughing up a Chile player during halftime of an earlier game. The team has racked up 96 fouls and 10 yellow cards so far, more than any other side in the tournament and then have the gall to ask FIFA for leniency in Silva’s case.

This is not good for football, especially Latin American football. I would feel a lot better if I didn’t get the feeling that some of those involved think that games are won by the casualty count instead of the goal count.

The game starts at 3PM CDT, so I’ll be updating with more later…

Wow! It happened but none of the ‘experts’ saw it coming. No one would suggest this as a probable outcome at this level.

In hindsight the Germans must have been testing their assumptions during the first ten minutes. Then Muller drew first blood at 11 minutes, followed by the final tweaking and the blitzkrieg was launched. Miroslav Klose entered the record books at 23 minutes, scoring for the 16^th time in a World Cup finals round. Kroos scored a minute later, and then again at 26 minutes. Khedira waited three minutes before he scored the fourth goal in 6 minutes. The first half ended Brazil 0-5 Germany.

After a half like that you would expect Germany to play defense to win, but they played defense the entire game, and Schürrle [a sub for Klose at 59 minutes] felt he needed to do his part so he added goals at 69 and 79 minutes.

Brazil finally responded at 90 minutes when Oscar snuck one in, so the game ended: Brazil 1-7 Germany. Just wow…

Cambridge-London

Distance: 155 kilometers.

Marcel Kittel won his second stage on the Mall in London but still trails Peter Sagan in Green Jersey points and Vincenzo Nibali in overall time. Kittel will concentrate on stage wins.

It was an easy, short stage with a bit of rain at the end to add some excitement and the final stage in Britain as the Tour returns to France for the next stage … well, for the start of the stage as the finish is in Belgium.

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 13h 31′ 13″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 117 points
Cyril Lemoine ( Fra – COF – 174 ) [Polka Dot] 6 points
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) 2 [White]

Team: Sky ( SKY – 001-009 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Marcel Kittel ( Ger – GIA – 101 )
Combative: Jan Barta ( Cze – TNE – 202 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) 13h 31′ 13″
2 Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) + 00′ 02″
3 Michael Albasini ( Sui – OGE – 182 ) + 00′ 02″
4 Greg Van Avermaet ( Bel – BMC – 148 ) + 00′ 02″
5 Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 001 ) + 00′ 02″
6 Bauke Mollema ( Ned – BEL – 061 ) + 00′ 02″
7 Alberto Contador ( Esp – TCS – 031 ) + 00′ 02″
8 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte ( Esp – MOV – 011 ) + 00′ 02″
9 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 00′ 02″
10 Romain Bardet ( Fra – ALM – 082 ) + 00′ 02″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

York – Sheffield

Distance: 201 kilometers.

Mark Cavendish will not capture sole possession of third place in overall stage wins this year as his crash during the sprint at the end of yesterday’s stage has sidelined him with at least a dislocated shoulder that may require surgery. Sacha Modolo ( Ita – LAM – 115 ) will also have to wait until next year as he didn’t finish the stage.

This was a rather hilly course starting with a Category 4, then the sprint, three Category 3s, a Category 2, and finishing with a 3-4-3-4 run into Sheffield.

Vincenzo Nibali won the Stage and the Yellow, while Peter Sagan picked up the Green and White with his second place finish. Peter will wear the Green and Romain Bardet gets to wear the White.

Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 ) [Yellow] 09h 52′ 43″
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) [Green] 69 points
Cyril Lemoine ( Fra – COF – 174 ) [Polka Dot] 6 points
Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) 2 [White]

Team: Sky ( SKY – 001-009 ) [Yellow numbers]
Stage winner: Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
Combative: Blel Kadri ( Fra – ALM – 086 ) [Red numbers]

Top Ten:

1 Vincenzo Nibali ( Ita – AST – 041 )
2 Peter Sagan ( Svk – CAN – 051 ) + 00′ 02″
3 Greg Van Avermaet ( Bel – BMC – 148 ) + 00′ 02″
4 Michael Albasini ( Sui – OGE – 182 ) + 00′ 02″
5 Christopher Froome ( GB – SKY – 001 ) + 00′ 02″
6 Bauke Mollema ( Ned – BEL – 061 ) + 00′ 02″
7 Jurgen Van Den Broeck ( Bel – LTB – 131 ) + 00′ 02″
8 Alberto Contador ( Esp – TCS – 031 ) + 00′ 02″
9 Tejay Van Garderen ( US – BMC – 141 ) + 00′ 02″
10 Jakob Fuglsang ( Den – AST – 042 ) + 00′ 02″

The Rest of the Top 30:
[Read more →]

And they were uniformly pathetic.

Today’s results:

Argentina 1-0 Belgium

Netherlands 0(4)-0(3) Costa Rica

In the first game Belgium triple-teamed Lionel Messi which gave the rest of the Argentine offense the opportunity to mostly miss the goal. Fortunately Higuain managed to hit it at 8 minutes in so the game was over after 90 minutes.

Messi is a world class player, but you can’t use three defenders to mark him without opening up space for his team.

The second game was worse. The Netherlands controlled the ball two-thirds of the time, but simply couldn’t find the net. This does not bode well for the Orange against the White & Sky-Blue of Argentina.

The final will be between the teams that figure out that the purpose of the game is to put the ball into the net.

The Tour de France started today and will continue until the July 27^th finish in Paris. This year the most iconic event in French cycling chose to begin with the Grand Depart in … Leeds … Yorkshire … England. The Jerseys after the first stage of competition were presented by … Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge with Princes William and Harry on the podium.

Yes, Le Tour is really starting in the Yorkshire Dales. Great Britain really supports cycling, and the Tour is a professional sports event with sponsors who want reach as many potential customers as possible.

As always, here are the Tour basics if you want to follow along, and no, I don’t think the French national team crashed out of the World Cup so they could watch the race, even if it does ease a major potential conflict for French media corporations.

The cartoon characters from my header are wearing the various colored jerseys that indicate the leader in the different classifications in the race.

The Maillot Jaune, Yellow Jersey is worn by the rider with the lowest time overall in the race. The eventual winner of the race may never have come in first in any stage, but was near the lead throughout the race and achieved the lowest time over the entire course of the event. The winner is normally an “all-arounder”, someone who is very good at the sprints and the hill climbing, even if they aren’t the best. Chris Froome, Alberto Contador, and Fabian Cancellara are “all-arounders”, showing up on the lists of the sprinters and the climbers, while staying in the top ten for overall time.

[Read more →]

Position: 45.0N 65.5W [10AM CDT 1500 UTC].
Movement: Northeast [035°] near 24 mph [39 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 60 mph [ 95 kph].
Wind Gusts: 75 mph [120 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 160 miles [260 km].
Minimum central pressure: 983 mb.

Currently about 95 miles [ 155 km] West-Northwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for New Brunswick from the US border to Grand-anse; Nova Scotia; Cape Breton Island; and Prince Edward Island.

This is the final NHC advisory. The Canadian Hurricane Centre continues issuing advisories.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]

These were very disappointing games. These were games that only fans of the four teams involved would watch to the end.

France 0-1 Germany

Hummels of Germany scored the only goal 11 minutes into the game and the next 79 minutes consisted of people finding novel ways not to score. Ball possession was 60-40% in both halves, Germany dominate in the first and France taking over in the second, but neither developed a rhythm to their game. Germany controlled the midfield and France was stymied. Germany played the midfield well, but couldn’t execute an accurate attack on the goal.

Brazil 2-1 Colombia

This was an ugly game. People weren’t faking injuries because there were plenty to go around. Brazil scored goals at 7 minutes and 68 minutes and Colombia didn’t net the ball until the 80 minute mark.

Brazil will be playing Germany without its captain, Thiago Silve, who picked up his second yellow card. They will also not have Neymar available as he suffered a fractured vertebra which will require immobilization to heal. This was not a ‘beautiful game’.

Neymar just recovered from thigh and knee injuries that occurred earlier in the game with Chile. I saw the incident that supposedly caused the injury and I don’t get it. He is a 22-year-old professional football player, but he suffers a broken vertebra from an open-handed push? I think he needs some tests done to find out what’s going on, because he seems to be injured badly with the application of minimal force.

Maid In The Shade

Zzz…zzz…

[Editor: Froggy relaxes on my neighbor’s bench to avoid over-heating and fleas.

Friday Ark

Position: 41.2N 68.7W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northeast [045°] near 31 mph [50 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 75 mph [120 kph].
Wind Gusts: 90 mph [145 kph].
Tropical Storm Wind Radius: 160 miles [260 km].
Hurricane Wind Radius: 70 miles [110 km].
Minimum central pressure: 976 mb.

Currently about 75 miles [ 120 km] East-Southeast of Chatham, Massachusetts.

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Nantucket Island; Cape Cod from Provincetown to Woods Hole; New Brunswick from the US border to Grand-anse; Nova Scotia; Cape Breton Island; and Prince Edward Island.

Arthur is weakening and expanding as it picks up speed. This is the beginning of the transition to a post-tropical storm.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]